Improvement in clasps



A. OHRISTEY.

Clasp.

No. 198,929. Patented Jan. 8,1878.

W. pm M UNITED STATES PATENTOFFIQE.

ARTHUR OHRISTEY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLASPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,929, dated J anu'ary 8, 1878; application filed September 24, 1877.

V edges, and in securing or holding closed such unsealed part or opening, by means of a sliding metal clasp or clamp, and which has a fiat back, and with or without an opening or holes, to which a tag can be attached or by which it may be suspended, all as hereinafter fully explained.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of the sliding clamp. Fig. 2 shows a clamp -of different sizes at each end of a package or envelope.

A represents the clamp, which will be made of a single piece of any metal having suitable tension, and which is first doubled in the center and flattened together, giving a back part, a then the two lips b b are rounded out or ovaled, with their edges meeting, or nearly so, forming a spring or clamping mouth. To attach this to a card, envelope, bag, or other suitable package, it is necessary to slide the edge or edges between the lips b I). To aid this the ends 0 c are rounded or beveled off, to readily admit the edges of the package or other device.

From the construction of this clamp or clasp it is necessary to slide it on the edges of the bag, &c., as it is not intended to be sprung open by the fingers.

This fastener is for such uses as sample bags of seeds, grains, &c., or for fastening any envelope, other than for letters, in which it is desirable or necessary to have one end or side left so that it can be opened and closed as often as required to get at the contents. For grocers or others using paper bags it will do away with string in a measure, and make a safer and better fastening. Also, for samples of various kinds sent through the mails, it allows the easy opening and closing of the envelope by thePost-Office authorities for examination.

One or more holes, d d, would be made in the fiat end a, by which the bag or package could be hung up or otherwise suspended, or to which might be attached a tag for an ad dress or other uses. (See Fig. 2.)

In a single package or bag but one clamp will be necessary, though two are shown in Fig. 2 to indicate that they may be of various widths or sizes.

It will be found to be more useful to bend the end and corners of the bag or envelope over before sliding on the clasp, especially where flour, grains, or other small particles are inclosed, to prevent dropping out. (See Fig. 2.)

I claim 7 1. For fastening together the open end or ends of an envelope, bag, or other package, the clamp or clasp A, constructed of a single piece of metal, with the two lips I) b and the flat back or rear part a, and with or without the beveled ends 0 a, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

2. The metal clasp A a b b c c, with the holes cl d in the fiat back part a, as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereuuito signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ARTHUR oHRIsTEY.

Witnesses:

THOMAS S. CUTTING, CHARLES H. CUTTING. 

